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Spending time out in Nature for me is one of the joys of life. And in June of this year, I got to go to the fabulous RHS Chatsworth Flower Show. During Summer I spend more time out in nature tending our allotments and our home garden.. This last couple of weeks as you saw in my last post here on Dreamwalkers Sanctuary I have been busy watching Wimbledon, and what a fortnight it has been with some amazing tennis played and some remarkable wins.

So along with some Photo’s I took of the flower exhibits at Chatsworth here is a poem I wrote some years ago now that you may find elsewhere on my blog , as I looked and as coincidence will have it I re-posted it around this time last year.

Enjoy the flowers.. I hope too you find time to go out into Nature and enjoy all she has to offer, as you find your own corner of Peace and Tranquillity. Sending you All Love and Light as I gradually work my way to repaying your lovely visits.. xxx

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Tranquil Garden

Sitting in the garden, as Blackbird sings her tune,

Summer is here, as we welcome the month of June

Foxgloves are in flower, as the Bumblebee explores

And new growth is around us, this time I just adore.

The fountain in the garden is tranquil, hear it flow

As peacefulness surrounds me, As I drift in Sun’s warm glow

The wind chimes they do tinkle, and the breeze just gently blows

And the pigeon in the tree top her cooing never slows

A neighbours cat is cooling, laid out beneath the shade

Oh how I love these tranquil, peaceful lazy days.

The grass appears much greener, or is it just my eyes,

For when we are contented, nature gives us our best prize.

We just have to take a moment in quiet thoughtful pose

To enjoy the bliss around us and be thankful I suppose.

Do we ever take a moment to give our heartfelt thanks?

For somewhere people are fighting and living with enemy Tanks.

So Bless those quiet moments of peace within your home for you never know when it could be shattered, and darkness soon enclose

I travelled back to the place I grew up last weekend. It brought back so many memories for me. Of a time when I was a young girl with no idea of where life would take me.

Each Sunday I would walk the 15 minutes distance of the village from our home to walk up to the Chapel where we would go to Sunday School in the Methodist Chapel. Often we would walk it twice a day on Sunday as we went to afternoon service and evenings on a special occasion, such as Easter or Harvest Festivals..

I being the eldest of 5 siblings would lead my bother and 3 sisters by the hand as we would Sing in the choir, often being the only choir some weeks. I often think we were made to go, just so as my Mother and Father could get some peace for a couple of hours.

Old Methodist Church Stoney Middleton Now a private Dwelling

On my revisit last weekend I walked that same distance, today however the chapel is no long a place of worship but converted into a private dwelling.

At one time I would have been able to name every one who lived in our village by name. Now apart from a few relations and old family’s still there most are now strangers,

Below is where I did the Maypole dance when I was a child with the village junior school. Weaving in and out holding coloured ribbons we would dance in front of the Parish Church St Martin’s.Bunting was spread out between the houses as it is now. We would practice long hours at Stoney Middleton Primary School so as we would not get our ribbons all twisted wrongly as we made our webs and patterns with the ribbons around the Maypole as the boys and girls skipped around..

The Nook was where I would do the Maypole as a child

Back then the older children of the village were allowed to help make the boarders of the main Well Dressing, while the adults created the main body of the wells. I am unsure as to how the village now organises its creation.

So what is a Well Dressing?

Stoney Middleton Well Dressing 2016

A Well Dressing is an old custom that the Village of Stoney Middleton has now been taking part in for the last 80 years. It is the Thanksgiving for the Spring water supply that dates back to ancient times of 1600 BC when the Peak District was occupied by a tribe of people called the Brigantia’s who took their name fromBrigantia ( the Holy One ) a Goddess who was a protector that formed a bridge between the Spiritual and Material Worlds. Below her lay many lesser’] ‘Deities’ who were believed to be embedded in stone and Trees. The most special of these were the Rowan and the Oak trees. But also Water that sprung from the wells from out of the Limestone and grit-stone was revered

Many of these Springs were warm.. And the one in Stoney Middleton pictured here with this beautiful Woodpecker which my nephew designed Here is a Thermal Spring. ..

Well-Dressings over Natural Spring. This Thermal Spring feeds the old Roman Bath House the temp’ of the water is a constant 63 degrees.

These springs were thought to come from the fiery underworld. The Spring Here is a constant temperature of 63 Degs even in winter. And today as back in my younger days, many of the villages would take there cars to the trough that overspills onto the road leading to the cemetry and wash their cars in warm water.

So back in those ancient times effigies were placed along with offerings near these caves and springs as the water was felt to have healing properties . Which led to the wells being dressed on May the 1st as an offering to the spring festival of Beltane as springs of flowers and branches would be left to honour Spring. The custom progressed within the Christian Churches which is carried on today called Well Dressing Week.

Children’s Well-Dressing made by the village school children. This years theme is Noah’s Ark

Many of the villages grow flowers in their gardens and allotments specifically to collect the petals and leaves.. The frame is made and filled with clay mixture.. When I was a child the adults would soak the clay in the local brook. And Everyone would have to work quickly, often we as children would carefully peel the petals so they were separated and we were allowed to do certain parts.. While the main picture was done by the adults who knew what they were doing. All of this is done voluntary.

Events are scheduled throughout the village week.. With Tug of War, Brass Bands, Maypole Dancing, Treasure Hunts, Cake stalls and competitions, while others have made cards, sell plants, and seeds and all proceeds are shared out among village projects and charities.

Below you can see the separate Petals used, and the seeds, pebbles, bark, leaves and stems used to create the Picture forming the Well Dressings.

Blue-tit created from petals and feathers , Bark is also used to create the tree branch.

Woodpecker.. My Nephew designed this particular one.

The water here is a constant 63 degrees

Welldressings over Natural Spring This spring feeds the old Roman Bath House the temp’ of the water is a constant 63 degrees,

The Junior School created this well of Noahs Ark

A closer view of the animals

Elephant in Sunflower seeds embedded into the clay

Here you can see how small pebbles have been used

Children’s Welldressing made by the village school chidren. This years theme is Noah’s Ark

Petals create this bird each a separate piece to create the whole.

Two Bluetits made of petals

Here is the restored Roman Bath House..

Roman Bath House Stoney Middleton

Looking inside, a grid has been placed inside now for safety reasons. as the water from the spring runs through it

More can be found here about the Roman Baths and Stoney Middleton HERE

We walked around some of the village reminiscing as we went . Here I used to walk to the shop which was at the time of my childhood one of two in the village. We also had a Post office and 3 Pubs back then.. Sadly this is the state of the front of the Old shop now.. There are no shops or Post Office in the village now.. The nearest shop and post office is in the next village or local Town.. And there is only now One Pub left in the village which is the Moon Inn.. which is steeped in its own History and Dark Past which can be found HERE.A sad state of the times as people bought the house attached to the back but as yet have let the front shop fall into decay.

Old shop and One time Post office

Before we left we went to say goodbye to some old family and friends who are no longer with us but who are close to us in spirit, And I said good bye as I reflected how quickly these last 41 years have sped by since I left the village for good when I got married in 1975..

Reflections of a time so loved..

If you want to find out more and see more of past well dressings you can see the progress of how one is made then click the link Here

“What a joy it is to feel the soft, springy earth under my feet once more, to follow grassy roads that lead to ferny brooks where I can bathe my fingers in a cataract of rippling notes, or to clamber over a stone wall into green fields that tumble and roll and climb in riotous gladness! “

Helen Keller

Remember last Autumn when the old compost heap on the allotment looked like this?

Then Hubby got to work and started to dig. First digging the rectangle bed out which I was going to set flowers in and my apple trees in.

He then dug out the compost heap and levelled it using the old stone boarders from our front garden.

If I had wanted these nasturtiums to grow through the top of this broken old fire onion chimney they most likely wouldn’t have.. But just look at the transformation of the old compost heap.. You now see the new overflowing compost heap contained behind the abundant Squashes and Courgettes.

Well now it looks like this.

Some times you just have to let Nature do her Thing.

This is the flower bed to the left which you saw in the strip of earth in the top photo

We have been busy over the last couple of days planting out our veggies.. And all those flowers seed trays you saw, are now nice little plants, I think I must have planted around 60 or more plants this afternoon, the other half will hopefully be in tomorrow..

I loved logging back here on Dreamwalker’s this evening to see so many comments waiting to be answered.. I appreciate and love all of your visits, and thank all of you who take the time to leave me your Drum Beats.. And hope you will have patience with me if I have not yet visited your blog to those who have taken the time to comment..

Here its a Bank Holiday Long weekend… And I am so tired, I have run out of steam 🙂 I have not even turned on the Computer the last couple of days.. So I am chilling out over the next couple of days..

Above is a Orchid that lay dormant for a year after flowering.. I thought it wouldn’t flower again..

This one is for you Maria.. I said I would get around to posting eventually!

Orchid 1 flower

Patience paid off.. I allowed it to feel neglected for a while then watered it and moved to a warmer sunnier position where it started to bloom..

Amazing when we give something our love and attention how it responds.. 🙂

Orchid 2 flowers

Have a Wonderful Peaceful weekend all of you.. See you next week after I have caught my breath and rested a little..

Muna’s Flower Garden

Muna’s vision of her grandmother’s lessons of Natures magic faded as she found herself once again within the field of her dreams.

Muna found she was now walking towards a huge tree which outlined the horizon which was in the haze of the bright light which seemed to penetrate all and everything around her.

She looked down at the flowers they too seemed to shine their brilliance; she felt such love pouring out from all the beautiful varieties she saw. It was as if the flowers were all speaking to her as she could feel each one as she walked through them as they showed her that love was within every living thing.

She bent down to touch one of the many small daisy like flowers that lined this beautiful meadow she found herself walking in, still bare foot she could feel the grasses beneath her feet and the warmth of the earth, as the love from this place oozed through the soles of her feet.

As she touched the flower she noticed too how her hands glistened with the same luminescence which the flowers and grasses exuded, like millions of glistening dewdrops upon her skin. The moment Muna touched the flower it was as if she instantly knew the thoughts of every flower as if they had somehow become one and Muna could read the flowers thoughts..

“ Please pick me, you won’t harm me, Please pick me” she looked at its perfect bloom and looked deep into its centre as she studied the stamens and saw how delicate and intricate was its construction with each petal perfectly formed. She turned to look at the flower next to it and she reached to touch its petals which were a delicate shade of pink and again she was aware again of the flowers thoughts wanting to be picked.

Memories of Aponi her Grandmother came back to Muna, as she heard within her mind her beloved Grandmother’s voice saying, “ Take nothing your do not need girl, nature gives us everything, we only take that which we need” she could see her Grandmother as she had been on that day as they had so often gone into the woods together collecting for her store cupboard. Bending over the fungi, and picking the mushrooms and blackberries, digging deep in the soil for the root herbs. “ Never waste a Life, For remember Muna, all things are living, even the rocks, so only take that which you need”..

Looking at the Flower now, Muna touched it gently and held it to her cheek and she smiled at the memory… Thanking it silently within her mind for giving its beauty for her to share..

It was then as she saw as if by magic, all the flowers bow in unison within the field as if in acknowledgement to her thought.. She smelt the heady fragrance of the flowers as they gave off their beautiful perfume… She closed her eyes to the brightness of the place and she sat for a moment within the blooms as their perfume made her dizzy. She held the flower close to her face it was as if it whispered in her ear…

And so the Tale of the Flowers tumbled into her mind as the flowers spoke to her..

So as she closed her eyes Muna was told the Story of the Flowers..

She was told why the flowers came to Earth… She was told that Earth was such a drab place before the plant life came, but they were created to bring colour and Joy…

“Our purpose” said the flower “is to heal and give love, and to open your hearts to the beauty and splendour of all life and to give it colour and fragrance. We give our lives up freely for our purpose is to bloom and die, giving love to those who pick us. For upon the Earth the moment we are plucked we return to the source of all light, this field we now reside in”.

Muna looked up at all the wonderful flowers and saw the many colours and varieties that surrounded her, she sat and listened intently.

“We are with you all your lives, you turn to us for many reasons and many occasions, we come at your birth and celebrate your arrival upon the Earth Mother. We come with your first love within the petals of your first red rose. We celebrate in your birthdays and anniversaries, and we come when you just need a smile to cheer your day. We just love to populate your gardens and parks and when it’s time for your last journey we come to brighten up your sad hearts as we bring you to our field of remembrance. We come to you with every thought your love ones bring.”

“We flower in your Summer, But our joy is in your Spring

We are ever present, for our love we always bring

And even in your winter we bloom amid the snow

For flowers are part of every living thing you know”

Muna smiled as she let go of the flower, gently touching its delicate form, she said thank you for all the times she was given their gifts as they sacrificed their end of their Earth life as they were plucked and so died. And she remembered the many times she had plucked a flower or received one.

She stood up from her place within the flowers and continued to walk the Summerland in her very own field of dreams, for as she looked around at the flowers, these were the very same she had picked or had been given throughout all her life.

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Award Free Blog From January 2015

As from 2015 Dreamwalker's Sancturay is now an Award Free Blog..
I am grateful for ALL the Awards I have been given from you amazing people..
Awards encourage bloggers to reach out to others especially when first starting out in blogging.. And I am so very thankful of each and everyone I have received and passed along.
Your Comments are all the rewards I require
Should you wish to pass an award along, then I started off 2015 with the Hearts as One Drumbeat Award.. If you know of an award winning blog who is deserving then please feel free to pass along my own creation in celebrating Unity, Love and Compassion..
Blessings to you ALL...
~Sue~

British Red Cross

Speak Out Against Nuclear Power

Visitors from Around the World

Each of us, carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse. Everything we do and think affects the people in our lives, and their reactions in turn affect others
As the effect of a seemingly insignificant word passes from person to person, its impact grows and can become a source of great joy, inspiration, anxiety, or pain.
Your thoughts and actions are like stones dropped into still waters, causing ripples to spread and expand as they move outward..
I hope that I can send a few ripples out via the web of life, as we each of us weave the threads together...
Welcome to my Sanctuary of Peace and Love... May we each spread our Lights around our World....Sue Dreamwalker